WPRA
West Pasadena Residents' Association 
Neighborhood Update
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016
Published weekly since 2000


Welcome

Founded in 1962, the WPRA is dedicated to maintaining the character of our neighborhoods and enhancing the quality of life in southwest Pasadena. 

   
Subscribe, unsubscribe or update your email address at the bottom of this page.

Send comments to update@wpra.net 

Chuck Hudson 
Co-Editor 

 

View the latest and past issues of the WPRA's quarterly magazine, The News, which is mailed to nearly 8,000 homes in west Pasadena.
Neighborhood Update
View past issues of this weekly WPRA eNewsletter, which is emailed each Saturday morning to more than 1,500 residents of Pasadena (and beyond).
Visit our website
Important community meetings
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29
(Leap Day) 

6:30 p.m.
City Hall, Council Chambers
100 N. Garfield Ave.
On the agenda: 
  • Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Eyestone Environmental for an amount not to exceed $601,210 for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Art Center College of Design Master Plan.
  • Conduct first reading of an ordinance to amend permitted uses within the South Fair Oaks Specific Plan to allow "Medical Services-Hospital" BACKGROUND: Hospital uses are not generally allowed within the South Fair Oaks Specific Plan, and Council observed (at its December 15, 2014 meeting, while considering a project that raised this issue) that such a use could be compatible with existing uses in the Specific Plan. After consideration of the consistency with the existing land uses, Specific Plan, General Plan Land Use Goals and Policies, and the General Plan Land Use Designations, staff concurred that hospital uses, with a conditional use permit, should be allowed in the Specific Plan
  • Endorse the recommended strategy to implement the 2015 General Plan, as revised in the agenda report. BACKGROUND: On January 25, 2016, staff presented to Council the Planning & Community Development Department's recommendation to implement the General Plan. That strategy would have taken four years and cost of $7.3 million. Council directed staff to condense the timeline to implement the General Plan within three years and limit the budget to a maximum of $5 million. The new three-year effort would focus on: (1) developing new citywide zoning districts to ensure subsequent development and land uses will be consistent with the recently adopted Land Use Diagram of the Land Use Element; (2) consolidate existing design guidelines and revise as necessary to establish Citywide Design Guidelines, (3) update each Specific Plan with tailored development regulations, and (4) conduct focused community outreach.
  • Authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Agreement on the Pacific Direct Current lntertie (PDCI). BACKGROUND: In 1967, the City entered into the Pacific lntertie D-C Transmission Facilities Agreement with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for a 2.3% share (currently 72 MW) of the PDCI. The PDCI enables Pasadena to access low-cost hydroelectric energy from the Pacific Northwest during the spring and summer, and provides a potential market for excess energy resources during the winter.
TUESDAY, MARCH 1

3:30 p.m.
Education Center
351 S. Hudson Ave.
Room 240
 
6:30 p.m.
Jackie Robinson Center
1020 N. Fair Oaks
"Quote" of the week
"We are pleased to announce that the Arroyo Seco is in the new plan for the expansion of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area as the Rim of the Valley Corridor. All the way from the San Gabriel Mountains to downtown LA, the Arroyo Seco River forms the eastern boundary of the expanded territory. Thanks, NPS [National Park Service]. Thanks Congressmember Adam Schiff!" - Arroyo Seco Foundation comment upon learning that the Arroyo Seco is now included the extended Rim of the Valley corridor

WPRA in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<

 
The West Pasadena Residents' Association supports the City's interest in seeing the proposed Arroyo Seco Music and Arts Festival develop into an event that showcases Pasadena as a cultural nexus for art, music and dining. The WPRA understands this major event will also provide a sound revenue stream for the Rose Bowl. 

However, the significant impact of such a large event on the surrounding neighborhoods -- as well as neighborhoods along the traffic corridors serving the Rose Bowl -- must be fully considered and offset by vigorous and effective measures that eliminate or mitigate the negative impact.

In a February 19 letter to the City, the WPRA identified the ways in which we believe the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) is deficient, and suggested a number of remedies. We look forward to reviewing the City's response to these comments and participating in the public review and consideration of the proposed festival.
Neighborhoods in motion
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION<



From February 25 through March 10, the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) will shut down its Weymouth Treatment Plant for a planned upgrade. This means Pasadena will receive no water from the MWD, which normally provides 60% of the city's total water supply. In January, City Council temporarily approved implementation of a Level 4 Water Supply Shortage Plan during the shutdown period. This action prohibits all outdoor watering, including hand watering.
 
During this period, Pasadena will have to rely on local groundwater from our wells and water stored in our reservoirs. Without strong conservation during this period, Pasadena will not have a sufficient water supply during the shutdown period. Although we are prohibiting all outdoor watering during the 15-day period, below are some additional things you can do to assist during the shutdown.
  • Take 5-minute (or less) showers.
  • Collect shower water (while it is warming) in a bucket and use that water for plants.
  • Collect water in trash bins or bathtubs for hand-watering household plants and sensitive plants as well as areas of the lawn that may show excessive stress (hot spots).
  • Do not leave the water running when washing dishes.
  • Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher.
  • Do not leave water running when brushing your teeth or shaving.
  • Do not wash your car(s).
Residents and businesses can safely dispose of electronic waste and have personal and business documents shredded at the City's e-waste event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 27, in Parking Lot I outside the Rose Bowl Stadium near Brookside Park, 360 N. Arroyo Blvd. The event is sponsored by the City's Department of Public Works. Shredding trucks and e-waste collection sites will be arranged at different stations in Parking Lot I. Look for signs directing you to the event. Motorists and bicyclists are advised to use caution while traveling through the area. E-waste items include desktop and laptop computers, keyboards, printers, monitors, docking stations, scanners, shredders, fax machines, computer mice, telephones, televisions of all types, VCRs, DVD players, PDAs, cassette players, tape drives, stereos and household batteries. For more information about the free e-waste collection and document shredding event, visit the Public Works' website or call (626) 744-7311.

As the search for a new City Manager begins, the City is wants to hear from you about the most important qualities potential should have. You can provide that input during two meetings. If you can't attend the meetings, you can provide input online. The meetings will be held on:
  • Thursday, March 3, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Jackie Robinson Community Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.; and
  • Tuesday, March 8, Noon-1 p.m. at the Villa-Parke Community Center, 363 E. Villa St.
Tour Old Pasadena on Saturday, March 5, 9 a.m., with an experienced Pasadena Heritage docent, see the renaissance and enjoy the architectural variety, fascinating history, virtually unchanged alleyways, and all the authentic details that keep history alive in the 21st Century. The cost for the tour is $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Reservations are required.
 
For 10 nights and 11 days starting on May 20, Pasadenans will have an opportunity to tour Japan and visit Pasadena's Sister City, Mishima, for its annual flower festival. The tour cost, including roundtrip airfare, is $3,800, based on 20 travelers. In coordination with the Pasadena Sister Cities Committee, reservations will be accepted up to February 29 on a first-come first-serve basis. For more information, contact Bryan Takeda at (626) 396-9927 or by sending and email to: affinity2000@earthlink.net
Editor's top news picks
>CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION

"The Pasadena City Council approved an environment impact report (EIR), as the first stage in the construction of a non-potable water pipeline from Scholl Canyon in Glendale to the Sheldon Reservoir site in Pasadena. The motion passed 5-1, with council member Tyron Hampton opposed. As adopted, the motion would also include consideration of relocating the pipeline's currently proposed route through the Linda Vista area. Construction of the first phase would take approximately one year." Pasadena Now

"A popular local nursery must enter into a new agreement to continue using the city-owned site it's on in Hahamongna Watershed Park by March 23 or vacate the property." Pasadena Weekly

 "Though it provoked a lively discussion, a vote on recommending measures to address homelessness - including the proposal of an ordinance to prohibit aggressive panhandling - was tabled by the Pasadena City Council Public Safety Committee Monday evening." Pasadena Now

"The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority and Uber are trying to iron out kinks in a proposed agreement that would strengthen regulations about the company's drivers picking up or dropping off passengers at Burbank's Bob Hope Airport." Pasadena Now
Leisure
- CLICK ON HEADLINES FOR MORE INFORMATION -

 

Looking for other ways to entertain or educate yourself and your family? 

For current events around the area, we encourage you to visit our local news outlets. Click on the publication title to visit that publication's events section (alphabetical order).

Attend WPRA board meetings each month 

Monthly WPRA board meeting dates and locations are on the WPRA website. Click on the headline above or visit our website and look under "Meetings and Events."


The WPRA needs you ... 

... to serve your community and do it with a group of your neighbors who are equally dedicated. If you live within our service area, we'd welcome your help.

  • Got the local news bug? Just curious about your city (and would like to share news with 1,000 or so of your closest friends), consider serving as a co-editor of Neighborhood Update. It will only take a few hours a week (on your own schedule) in the month or two a year in which you'd serve. We'll train you.  
  • We have lots of opportunities to serve on one of our many committees:
    • Land use and planning
      If you care about how we use our land  
    • Education
      If you want to help save public education for West Pasadena  
    • Open space & conservation
      If you care about preserving open space and conservation of land and resources 
    • Membership
      If you'd like to help us continue to build our membership so we can do more  
If you'd like to chat about ways we could help you become more involved or, more likely, more effective (by helping us), send an email to WPRA President. Tell him about your interests.   
To learn more

Visit wpra.net and "like" our Facebook page  

To submit information for the Neighborhood Update, send it to update@wpra.net. 

 

Joseph Stoddard's watercolors: The WPRA is grateful to local artist Joseph Stoddard, who has generously allowed us to display his watercolors in our quarterly newsletter, The (WPRA) News; on the WPRA website; and in this publication. To explore Mr. Stoddard's work, visit josephstoddard.com.